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1945-1969
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By the time League football resumed in 1946, Newcastle had a side to be reckoned with. Centre Forward Albert Stubbins, a youngster at St. James' in the 1930's, had blossomed into a remarkable goalscorer in wartime football, and in 1945/6 he played for England. After augmenting the squad with players like Joe Harvey and Frank Brennan, United just missed promotion and a Wembley visit in 1947. Crowds were coming back in droves to United and money was once again flowing into the coffers.
Len Shackleton proved to be another good signing and on his debut, and set a record for the most United goals scored in a match when he put 6 past Newport County in a remarkable 13-0 victory - to this day Newcastle's biggest win.
The following season saw United break more records with an average attendance of nearly 57,000, the highest in the league, despite Newcastle still being in Division 2. There were 15,000 applicants for the clubs meagre 1,500 season tickets. Milburn switched from the wing to centre-forward, and this proved to be a great move as he hammered in 20 goals during this promotion season. United continued to strengthen their squad, bringing in George Robledo and Bobby Mitchell. For the next decade United were one of the First Division's high-flyers, completing a trio of FA Cup wins in 1951, 1952 and 1955.
Robledo equalled Gallacher's 25 year old 39 goals in a season record in 1952. As ever unfortunately, Newcastle went into something of a decline after the 1955 victory, and despite Charlie Mitten taking over in 1958 as manager of what looked a good side in the making, Newcastle fell away badly and were relegated in 1961. The 1960-61 season was fascinating however, for New- castle netted almost 100 goals, unfortunately conceding more than 100. Mitten departed soon after and in came an old United favourite, former Cup winning captain Joe Harvey, in the summer of 1962.
Newcastle were struggling in every respect, yet within 3 years, in 1965, Newcastle returned to top flight football as Division 2 Champions. A mixture of young talent like David Craig and Frank Clark, together with transfers like Stan Anderson, Jim Iley and David Hilley, gave United a tough squad. Newcastle consolidated their 1st Division place and in 1968 entered European Competition for the first time in the UEFA Inter Cities Fairs Cup.
Newcastle were not given much of a chance, but astonished everyone by beating European giants Feyenoord 4-0 in the first leg, first round. They then went onto beat teams such as Sporting Lisbon and Glasgow Rangers before demolishing Hungarians Ujpest Dozsa home and away in the final to lift the trophy. Players like "Pop" Robson, Wyn Davies and Bobby Moncur rose to fame during this time.
Seventies and Eighties >>
